Bashir, royalty and childhood trauma: the revelations from Charles Spencer’s book

Charles Spencer’s tribute to his sister on September 6, 1997 is regarded as one of the great eulogies of modern times. His lyrical introduction – and the first arrow aimed at the Royal Family – the removal of her HRH: “Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty. All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity who needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic.”

His second arrow – more pointed and oft-repeated – but how odd to suggest that only Spencer blood flowed through the young princes’ veins: “I pledge that we, your blood family, will do all we can to continue the imaginative way in which you were steering these two exceptional young men so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition but can sing openly as you planned.”

He ended, his voice breaking: “My sister, the unique, the complex, the extraordinary and irreplaceable Diana, whose beauty, both internal and external, will never be extinguished from our minds.”

As he finished, what sounded like rain was in fact applause from the thousands outside the Abbey, rolling down the aisles and along the pews all the way to the High Altar – only the senior Royals remained unmoved.

All but three decades on, Charles Spencer sure is singing openly as his historic address shapes and frames the eulogist’s memoir of his sister – providing headings to each of his 30 chapters. Dedicated to “all those who have lost a sibling”, he chose his title as “she never had a chance to utter her own swan song”. It might be natural to say “Spare me, not another Diana biography” – but no one knew her better than he.

A respected historian with a handful of biographies of his Marlborough and Stuart ancestors, the Earl writes vividly and well. His account of their shared childhood (“Carlos” and “Duch”) is fascinating. The Guardian’ s critic was struck by his last book – the grimmest memoir, A Very Private School (2024) – the “vehemence and the therapeutic purpose it serves in allowing Spencer to “reclaim” his childhood, but the authenticating detail of his memory – it’s as if trauma has frozen these in time.”

It is said that revenge is a dish best served cold and there are flashes of icy fury in defence of his wronged sister, but Penguin’s ingenious marketing and sensational pre-publication of extracts have skewed the narrative; Spencer’s criticism of his former brother-in-law is repeated, but not relentless.

While he acknowledges that as someone who has taken four countesses and produced seven children, he is no model of constancy, the chief source of his censure is that Prince Charles always loved another. He even told Diana just before they wed that he was happy to marry her but did not love her.